Crane coming to remove collapsed crane at Kent County Jail complex

GRAND RAPIDS – A 120-ton truck crane with a 145-foot hydraulic boom will be used Wednesday morning to remove a crane that collapsed onto an addition at the Kent County Jail complex.

The process is expected to begin around 8 a.m.

The crane that collapsed, a Sumitomo 200-ton crawler crane with a 145-foot main boom, collapsed onto a wall and fleet services where the county keeps and repairs its vehicles. Its boom will be put on the ground between the crane body and fleet services and disassembled before it is loaded onto flat trailers.

Because of heat and water issues in the old jail, up to 200 inmates have been relocated to neighboring jails. Authorities will assess damage to the building under construction and existing buildings once the crane is removed.